CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News

Britain by Bike - Clare Balding Harold Briercliffe

(2 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by HankChief
  • Latest reply from Stickman

  1. HankChief
    Member

    I just spotted this was on the telly earlier tonight (BBC4).

    Anyone watch it? Any good?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4lqf

    Clare Balding sets out on a two-wheel odyssey to re-discover Britain from the saddle of a touring cycle.

    In a six-part series, Clare follows the wheeltracks of compulsive cyclist and author Harold Briercliffe whose evocative guide books of the late 1940s lovingly describe by-passed Britain - a world of unspoiled villages, cycle touring clubs and sunny B roads.

    Carrying a set of Harold's Cycling Touring Guides for company and riding his very own bicycle, Clare embarks on six iconic cycle rides to try and find the world he described - if it's still there.

    Her first journey takes Clare to the rugged and beautiful Atlantic coast of north Devon - from Lynmouth, scene of Britain's worst flood disaster in the early 1950s, to Ilfracombe via Little Switzerland, and a hidden silver mine whose riches probably helped England win the Battle of Agincourt.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. Stickman
    Member

    The whole series has been repeated recently on BBC4 and I think I've watched them all now through the miracle of iplayer.

    It's a pleasant enough half-hour, in a similar vein to Portillo's Great Railway Journeys (which is far superior, IMHO).

    What is very interesting though is the accounts and photos of the touring club outings from the 40s and 50s.

    Posted 9 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin